Craig Stammen
Episode 173
23 MAY 2022
He is a veteran Major League Baseball pitcher. He has appeared in over 540 games and pitched close to 860 innings and is in his 13th season of MLB, with 2022 being his sixth season with San Diego, making him the second-longest tenured Padre. He spent seven years with the Washington Nationals, who had selected him in the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Dayton, where he made 60 pitching appearances after also having pitched for his high school baseball team as well.
Notable guest quotes:
“We immersed in the faith from day one. The Catholic church there is St. Louis parish and the whole town pretty much goes to that church… Where I even went to public high school, ya’ know, 99 percent of the kids are Catholic and have that kind of faith life. So, I’m very privileged and blessed to be able to grow up in that type of community, with the type of family that put Jesus at the forefront.”
“Football, basketball, and baseball is what I played in high school… It’s a good thing that I was a sports lover and was able to play ‘em all.”
“Obviously the draw of (the University of Dayton) being a Catholic school and faith being a part of its community did draw me towards that.”
“I felt like my faith was strong enough to go (to college) about anywhere, but the University of Dayton was the exact right spot for me at the right time.”
“I had a great foundation from my mom and dad, both strong in their faith, and taught me from an early age who Jesus was and how that was supposed to emulate how we live the rest of our lives.”
“When I got drafted (into MLB) I was very thankful, and I knew it was part of God’s control and part of His plan for me that that was going to happen.”
“That was probably the turning point… as far as when things kind of clicked and understood that faith and sports can work together, and sports is just an extension of my faith.”
“(2 Timothy 1:7) is a verse I use when I’m on the pitching mound, actually… And it just reminds me on the mound to not be fearful. And, that I’ve been put on the mound that day for a reason, and that’s to glorify Him.”
“I think it’s an important idea in my own head to be a man after God’s own heart and to pray for that and to try to execute that on a daily basis.”
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